A knee replacement is the operation of replacing some or all of the knee joint with implants of metal and plastic.

total knee replacement on model
partial knee replacement

 

Total versus partial knee replacement

A total knee replacement replaces the whole of the joint surface of the femur and tibia. Often the patellofemoral joint is replaced as well.

In a partial knee replacement only one articular area of the knee is replaced, while the rest of the joint remains intact.

Back to top

 

Synonyms: 
TKR
Total knee arthroplasty
-

Dr Sheila Strover (Editor)
BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA

See biography...